Mayo judge lifts curfew to allow man sell merchandise at GAA games

A CURFEW on a Galway man accused of violent disorder in a Mayo town was lifted to allow him to sell merchandise outside stadiums during the GAA Championship.

Derek Ward of 25 Coole Park, Bohermore, Galway City appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he applied to the court to vary his bail conditions.

Mr Ward is charged with a number of offences arising from an alleged incident outside Supermac's in Ballinrobe on April 10, 2023 including assault causing harm, production of an article, criminal damage and violent disorder.

The court was told that Mr Ward has yet to enter a plea to the charges but is currently on bail and the conditions include signing on four days a week at Salthill Garda Station, staying out of Co Mayo, observing a curfew from 11pm to 7am and going to Traveller mediation.

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Mr Ward applied to vary the bail to lift the curfew and to reduce the number of days he has to sign on at Salthill Garda Station but An Garda Siochána objected to the application.

Sergeant Helena Hastings told the court that the allegations against Mr Ward in Ballinrobe were as a result of a family feud and there was no repeat incident since then. She told Patrick Reynolds, counsel for the prosecution, that she felt the bail conditions were working and she did not want to 'rock the boat' by lifting them.

Mr Brendan McDonagh, counsel for Mr Ward said his client was self employed as a seller of merchandise at concerts and sporting events and has not been able to work for the last two summers. He said the curfew meant that it would be difficult for him to return home from concerts before 11pm and did not want to lose another summer of business.

Mr McDonagh added that his client has engaged in Traveller medication and has 'gone a step further' and is involved in mediating with other Travellers who are involved in disputes.

When questioned by Judge Garavan as to why he would be selling merchandise at night, Mr McDonagh said that much of the merchandise is sold after concerts as people with more drink are 'inclined to purchase'.

“This is not the National Concert Hall we are talking about,” Mr McDonagh told Judge Garavan, adding that summer concerts in Croke Park can be over five days.

Judge Garavan agreed to vary the bail condition for Mr Ward to sign on twice a week in Salthill Garda Station and to lift the curfew from May 1.

However, Mr McDonagh asked for the curfew to be lifted from April 1 to coincide with the start of the football championship which begins that month.

Judge Garavan agreed but noted that this was April Fools Day and told Mr Ward he hoped he would not make a fool of him by breaching the bail conditions. He said the other bail conditions which included attending Traveller mediation and staying out of Mayo will remain in place.